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Real Estate News

How to Get a Jump on Fall Home Projects


Written By: Jaymi Naciri
Thursday, September 12, 2019

Consider your window coverings

Conventional wisdom says you should trade out your lightweight draperies for something more substantial for the colder seasons. But sheers are great in fall and winter. Letting some sunlight trickle through can help heat the home while still providing privacy, and they can be added to any window, regardless of the type of treatment you already have.nbsp;

Mulch. That. Yard.nbsp;

ldquo;Should you mulch plants in the fall? The short answer is: yes Mulching around plants in autumn has all kinds of benefits, from preventing soil erosion to suppressing weeds to protecting plants from moisture loss and shifts in temperature,rdquo; said Gardening Knowhow.nbsp;

Invest in some covers for your good patio stuff

Every year we say wersquo;re going to do this and every year we fail. Consequently, we had to replace our patio cushions this year far sooner than we would have liked. Dont be like us. You can prolong the life of your patio furniture and grill with a good waterproof cover. ldquo;During the warmer months, yournbsp;outdoor patio furniturenbsp;likely gets a lot of use,rdquo; said Hayneedle. ldquo;In colder months, you probably spend less time outside and thus less time utilizing your outdoor furniture. If you live in an area that has a cold or wet climate in the winter, you will need to take steps to make sure that your patio furniture is properly protected from the elements.rdquo;nbsp;

Get your heater checkednbsp;

We get it. No one wants to turn their heater on when itrsquo;s 100 degrees outside. But what you really donrsquo;t want is to be faced with a broken heater when itrsquo;s 0 degrees outside. See if you can make an appointment now to get your system checked in October, and if your chosen company doesnrsquo;t schedule appointments that far in advance, at least make an appointment with yourself to make another call at the end of September.

Clean out your gutters

Clogged gutters can pose a danger to your home. Get them cleaned out now to make sure rain and snow can flow freely and isnrsquo;t being impeded by leaves and debris.nbsp;

Do a chimney checknbsp;

Schedule this well in advance to make sure you can safely use your fireplace when the first chilly night hits.

Get a tree inspection

Heavy rain, wind, and snow can put pressure on tree limbs. You donrsquo;t want them snapping and ending up crashing through your roof or breaking a window. This is the perfect time to have them checked out.

Examine your utilitiesnbsp;

Check current bills against the same time last year. Has your electric bill gone up dramatically year over year? You could have an air leak that needs to be addressed more on that below. Is your water bill significantly higher than 12 months ago? You may have a dripping showerhead, a running toilet, or a problem with your hot water heater. Time to call a plumbernbsp;nbsp;

Check for leaks around windows and doors

About those air leaks: Little leaks can cost younbsp;big time, and the sooner you deal with them, the sooner you can start saving money. ldquo;An average home loses up to 30 of its heating and cooling energy throughnbsp;air leaks,rdquo; said Houselogic. ldquo;The most significant air leaks tend to occur around windows and doors.rdquo;

You can easily check for leaks with incense. ldquo;With windows and doors closed, hold a lit stick of incense near window and door frames wherenbsp;drafts might sneak in. Watch for smoke movement,rdquo; they said. Then itrsquo;s just a matter of adding caulking and weather strippingmdash;both easy and inexpensive DIY fixes.

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